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Romero relishing camp experience, flashing potential

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By Greg Johns
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MLB.com |

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- The Mariners continued their slugging ways Thursday with four home runs in two games on a split-squad day, including two by young infielder Stefen Romero in Seattle's 12-2 victory over the Royals.

Romero had a highlight-reel day with a grand slam and a three-run shot in a 4-for-5 game with seven RBIs and a double as well.

Casper Wells also ripped a three-run shot in that game, while Robert Andino homered in the Mariners' 7-3 loss to the A's in Phoenix in the other contest. The four home runs gave Seattle 30 in 14 games this spring, two more than they totaled in the entire 26-game Cactus League schedule last year.

Romero unloaded the bases in the fourth inning against Royals reliever Guillermo Moscoso and then capped things off with a three-run shot off Minor Leaguer Anthony Ortega in the ninth. The 24-year-old second baseman out of Oregon State hit 23 homers a year ago while batting .352 as he split his season between Class A High Desert and Double-A Jackson.

"Yesterday, I was 0-for-2 with two strikeouts," Romero said with a smile. "You just have to flush it. You have to have a short-term memory and luckily today everything went my way."

Romero is hitting .500 (7-for-14) this spring while soaking up his first Major League camp. He's a long shot to find a roster spot with the Mariners this spring, but is certainly opening some eyes as to his potential.

"It's an awesome experience, being around the older guys like [Raul] Ibanez, [Michael] Morse, [Kendrys] Morales," he said. "You just have to take bits and pieces of their game. Especially [Jay] Buhner today in the dugout, he always has a positive mental attitude and it just rubs off on the team. It's a great experience."